Mail.com: Division I FBS Independentshttp://www.mail.com/organizations/23170-division-fbs-independents.html
Mail.com - the best personalized free web-based EmailenenMail.com: Division I FBS Independentshttp://sec-s.uicdn.com/mcom/4.269.0/img/mailcom_logo_rss.pnghttp://www.mail.com/organizations/23170-division-fbs-independents.html
Notre Dame beats No. 22 LSU 31-28 in Music Cityhttp://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/3282134-notre-dame-beats-no-22-lsu-31-28-music-city.html
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) — Notre Dame and senior kicker Kyle Brindza got the finish they had missed too often the last half of the season. Beating a Southeastern Conference team in southern territory only made it that much sweeter.
Brindza hit a 32-yard field goal as time expired, and Notre Dame upset No. 22 LSU 31-28 in a Music City Bowl shootout Tuesday. "...Wed, 31 Dec 2014 01:01:48 GMThttp://www.mail.com/entertainment/music/3282134-notre-dame-beats-no-22-lsu-31-28-music-city.html2014-12-31T01:01:48ZGrebe kicks Navy to 17-16 Poinsettia Bowl winhttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3275246-grebe-kicks-navy-to-17-16-poinsettia-bowl-win.html
SAN DIEGO (AP) — Pardon coach Ken Niumatalolo for being perhaps a bit befuddled amid the euphoria of Navy's 17-16 Poinsettia Bowl victory against San Diego State on Tuesday night.
"I have no idea how we won the game," Niumatalolo said. The Midshipmen won it by not being the last team to make a critical mistake in a game full of them. Navy's Austin Grebe k...Wed, 24 Dec 2014 07:02:42 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3275246-grebe-kicks-navy-to-17-16-poinsettia-bowl-win.html2014-12-24T07:02:42ZNavy makes it 13 in a row over Army 17-10http://www.mail.com/sports/football/3259334-navy-13-row-army-17-10.html
BALTIMORE (AP) — The game was over, and it was time for Navy to celebrate its 13th straight victory over Army.
After the Midshipmen stood respectfully for Army's alma mater, defensive ends Paul Quessenberry and Will Anthony hoisted Ken Niumatalolo on their shoulders to give the winningest football coach in Navy history a free ride in the wake of a 17-10 t...Sun, 14 Dec 2014 01:02:19 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3259334-navy-13-row-army-17-10.html2014-12-14T01:02:19ZBowl breakdown: Top games not in 'New Year's Six'http://www.mail.com/sports/football/3249758-bowl-breakdown-top-games-new-years-six.html
With nearly 40 bowl games looming, it can be difficult finding those postseason gems.
The Rose Bowl and Sugar Bowl semifinals in the College Football Playoff are no-brainers. And the other matchups in the "New Year's Six" — which includes the Peach, Orange, Cotton and Fiesta — also should garner lots of attention.
But the entire postse...Mon, 08 Dec 2014 20:58:29 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3249758-bowl-breakdown-top-games-new-years-six.html2014-12-08T20:58:29ZNorthwestern rallies to beat No. 15 Irish 43-40http://www.mail.com/sports/football/3211450-northwestern-rallies-to-beat-no-15-irish-43-40.html
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald already knew what it felt like to beat Notre Dame. That's because he did it as a linebacker in 1995, in a game the Chicago Sun Times described as "The Upset of the Century."
He thinks he likes this win more. Northwestern's Jack Mitchell forced the game into overtime with a 45-yard field goal with 1...Sun, 16 Nov 2014 04:07:55 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3211450-northwestern-rallies-to-beat-no-15-irish-43-40.html2014-11-16T04:07:55ZStylin': Margins matters in college footballhttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3207714-stylin-margins-matters-college-football.html
In college football, it's not just about whether you win or lose. It's about the final score, too — and how much of a bump a comfortable margin of victory gives a team in the eyes of playoff judges.
Call them style points. And there's no way to know precisely how much they count. Unbeaten Florida State found that out when it slipped behind Oregon (9-1) to...Thu, 13 Nov 2014 20:24:00 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3207714-stylin-margins-matters-college-football.html2014-11-13T20:24:00ZHow SEC could get complicated come playoff timehttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3205550-complicated-playoff-time.html
Mississippi State beats Alabama on Saturday, wins the Southeastern Conference championship game and goes merrily along into the College Football Playoff.
Or Alabama defeats Mississippi State and Auburn, takes the SEC title game and rolls into the playoff. That could even earn the SEC two spots in the final four, depending on how the Bulldogs do against Mi...Wed, 12 Nov 2014 18:55:09 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3205550-complicated-playoff-time.html2014-11-12T18:55:09ZAnother SEC upset shakes up playoff racehttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3199038-upset-shakes-up-playoff-race.html
All those showdown games on the schedule Saturday and it was a 20-point underdog that shook up the playoff race.
For the second straight week a Southeastern Conference contender took a potentially devastating loss when No. 3 Auburn was upset 41-38 at home by a Texas A&M team that came to Jordan-Hare Stadium reeling.
The Aggies had lost...Sun, 09 Nov 2014 09:01:01 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3199038-upset-shakes-up-playoff-race.html2014-11-09T09:01:01ZNo. 11 Sun Devils beat No. 8 Irish 55-31http://www.mail.com/sports/football/3198920-no-11-sun-devils-beat-no-8-irish-55-31.html
TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — What appeared to be a program-defining win in the first half had turned on Arizona State. The Sun Devils were on their heels, a 31-point lead down to three with a few minutes left, another spirit-crushing loss seemingly on the way.
But something changed in the Sun Devils. They didn't back down from the challenge. They rose up, finding ...Sun, 09 Nov 2014 02:29:42 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3198920-no-11-sun-devils-beat-no-8-irish-55-31.html2014-11-09T02:29:42ZBig Ten, SEC, Big 12 showdowns impact playoff racehttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3196454-big-ten-sec-big-12-showdowns-impact-playoff-race.html
As college football's regular season heads into its stretch run, plenty of intriguing plotlines are developing each week.
Revenge motives. Playoff implications. Clashes of style. Matchups of two-way players. Here are some of the top things to watch this week: BUCKEYES' BIG CHANCE: No. 13 Ohio State continues to pay dearly for its early-season home loss to...Sat, 08 Nov 2014 09:25:28 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3196454-big-ten-sec-big-12-showdowns-impact-playoff-race.html2014-11-08T09:25:28ZGolson leads No. 6 Notre Dame over Navy, 49-39http://www.mail.com/sports/football/3187074-golson-leads-no-6-notre-dame-navy-49-39.html
LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — On a night in which Notre Dame blew a 21-point lead and its youthful defense surrendered 454 yards, coach Brian Kelly still found reason to smile.
Mostly because the sixth-ranked Fighting Irish somehow found a way to beat Navy 49-39. "As a coach that's really all you can ask for, to win a football game and give a lot of young guys exp...Sun, 02 Nov 2014 04:51:40 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3187074-golson-leads-no-6-notre-dame-navy-49-39.html2014-11-02T04:51:40ZRating the Nation-Best Pre-BCS Bowlshttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3184484-rating-nation-best-pre-bcs-bowls.html
There was no BCS to make sure Nos. 1 and 2 played each other after the 1982 regular season. That left No. 1 Nebraska facing No. 4 Miami in what was expected to be a coronation for the powerful Cornhuskers.
It ended up being one of the great games in college football history, spawning a superpower in south Florida. Ahead of the college football season, The...Fri, 31 Oct 2014 08:19:07 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3184484-rating-nation-best-pre-bcs-bowls.html2014-10-31T08:19:07ZNotre Dame's Robinson grows into big-play receiverhttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3183632-notre-dames-robinson-grows-big-play-receiver.html
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame receiver Corey Robinson didn't dwell on his potential game-winning touchdown against Florida State being taken away by a controversial penalty.
"At the moment I saw the flag, I said, 'OK, next play,'" said the son of former NBA star David Robinson. Fighting Irish coaches say Robinson's cool demeanor and work ethic is hel...Thu, 30 Oct 2014 20:05:19 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3183632-notre-dames-robinson-grows-big-play-receiver.html2014-10-30T20:05:19ZParseghian turned around moribund Notre Damehttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3173008-parseghian-turned-moribund-notre-dame.html
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Notre Dame's glory days seemed like a distant memory 50 years ago when Ara Parseghian took over as coach.
The Fighting Irish finished 2-7 in 1963. The only thing that prevented them from likely matching the worst record in school history was a game against Iowa being canceled because of the assassination of President John Kennedy. ...Sat, 25 Oct 2014 08:02:51 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3173008-parseghian-turned-moribund-notre-dame.html2014-10-25T08:02:51ZVols, Wolverines out to flip trends against rivalshttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3167808-vols-wolverines-to-flip-trends-rivals.html
The history and geography say rivalry games. Recent results suggest lopsided matchups.
Tennessee hosts No. 4 Alabama on Saturday in a classic Southeastern Conference rivalry that the Crimson Tide has owned recently, winning seven straight. Michigan goes to No. 8 Michigan State in a Big Ten rivalry that has flipped toward the Spartans, who have won five of...Wed, 22 Oct 2014 20:31:30 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3167808-vols-wolverines-to-flip-trends-rivals.html2014-10-22T20:31:30ZNotre Dame's Kelly regrets not putting champs awayhttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3162016-notre-dames-kelly-regrets-putting-champs.html
The next day, Brian Kelly's biggest regret was Notre Dame let a game with Florida State come down to a point where a penalty he still insisted should not have been called could have so much to do with the outcome.
"I mean, you got to take the belt from the champion," the Fighting Irish coach said Sunday, a little more than 12 hours after Notre Dame lost 3...Sun, 19 Oct 2014 22:54:20 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3162016-notre-dames-kelly-regrets-putting-champs.html2014-10-19T22:54:20ZSchedule favors No. 2 Florida State down stretchhttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3161760-schedule-favors-no-2-florida-stretch.html
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — The road to the College Football Playoffs is open for Florida State after a thrilling victory Saturday night.
The No. 2 Seminoles passed their toughest test by holding on against then-No. 5 Notre Dame with a second-half comeback orchestrated by quarterback Jameis Winston. The Seminoles (7-0, 4-0 ACC) control their own destiny, and...Sun, 19 Oct 2014 18:29:08 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3161760-schedule-favors-no-2-florida-stretch.html2014-10-19T18:29:08ZNo. 2 'Noles survive scare from No. 5 Irish, 31-27http://www.mail.com/sports/football/3161184-no-2-noles-survive-scare-no-5-irish-31-27.html
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — With Florida State's perfect record still intact and a second-half rally against Notre Dame complete, Jameis Winston and coach Jimbo Fisher shared a hug as the crowd exploded in celebration.
Winston had done it again. "He has a drive to win," Fisher said. "He has a drive for greatness." No. 2 Florida State bounced back from a 17-1...Sun, 19 Oct 2014 06:03:55 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3161184-no-2-noles-survive-scare-no-5-irish-31-27.html2014-10-19T06:03:55ZPlayoff Pulse: Big 12 upsets may give SEC an edgehttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3161096-playoff-pulse-big-12-upsets-edge.html
The Southeastern Conference might have a trump card it can use against the Big 12 when it comes time to set the field for the College Football Playoff.
No. 6 Auburn's victory at Kansas State in September is looking a whole lot more valuable after the 14th-ranked Wildcats pretty much eliminated Big 12 preseason favorite Oklahoma from playoff contention on ...Sun, 19 Oct 2014 05:48:11 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3161096-playoff-pulse-big-12-upsets-edge.html2014-10-19T05:48:11ZNo. 2 Florida St running out of chances to impresshttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3159438-no-2-florida-st-running-chances-to-impress.html
TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (AP) — No one around the Florida State football team wants to call Saturday's game against No. 5 Notre Dame a must-win. Reality could tell a different story.
The No. 2 Seminoles last week dropped from the top of the rankings for the first time since Dec. 1, 2013 despite a 6-0 record. Florida State simply hasn't been as dominant as during...Fri, 17 Oct 2014 20:33:47 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3159438-no-2-florida-st-running-chances-to-impress.html2014-10-17T20:33:47ZMississippi-mania: Bulldogs take No. 1 in AP pollhttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3148488-mississippi-mania-bulldogs-take-no-1-ap-poll.html
Breaking down the ballots for the AP Top 25 and wrapping up college football's seventh weekend.
MIGHTY MISSISSIPPI
The Mississippi-mania sweeping college football is more than just a temporary condition. It just keeps getting better for the Magnolia state's Southeastern Conference teams.
Mississip...Sun, 12 Oct 2014 18:42:07 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3148488-mississippi-mania-bulldogs-take-no-1-ap-poll.html2014-10-12T18:42:07ZNotre Dame pulls out 50-43 win vs. North Carolinahttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3147546-notre-dame-pulls-50-43-win-vs-north-carolina.html
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Everett Golson and Notre Dame did just enough to overcome their own mistakes and beat North Carolina.
The 50-43 victory Saturday, the highest-scoring game in the 84-year-history of Notre Dame Stadium, wasn't secure for the sixth-ranked Irish until Ben Koyack recovered the Tar Heels' onside kick with 47 seconds left.
...Sun, 12 Oct 2014 01:18:39 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3147546-notre-dame-pulls-50-43-win-vs-north-carolina.html2014-10-12T01:18:39ZGolson rallies Irish to 17-14 win over Stanfordhttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3134632-golson-rallies-irish-to-17-14-win-stanford.html
SOUTH BEND, Ind. (AP) — Everett Golson spotted tight end Ben Koyack alone in the back of the end zone just in time.
On fourth-and-11 from the 23 and trailing 14-10, Golson dropped back to pass and managed to avoid the Stanford rush just long enough to find Koyack as two Cardinal defensive backs tried to recover from the blown assignment.
...Sun, 05 Oct 2014 01:44:50 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3134632-golson-rallies-irish-to-17-14-win-stanford.html2014-10-05T01:44:50ZHill breaks leg, No. 18 BYU loses 35-20 to Utah Sthttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3133592-hill-breaks-leg-no-18-byu-loses-35-20-to-utah-st.html
PROVO, Utah (AP) — There were hopes for an undefeated season, a major bowl bid and possibly even a Heisman Trophy.
That all came crashing down Friday night for No. 18 Brigham Young. Not only did the Cougars (4-1) lose for the first time, they also lost Taysom Hill for the rest of the year. Hill, who was building a strong case for Heisman consideration wit...Sat, 04 Oct 2014 07:55:30 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3133592-hill-breaks-leg-no-18-byu-loses-35-20-to-utah-st.html2014-10-04T07:55:30ZBig games will sort playoff contenders, pretendershttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3131812-big-games-will-sort-playoff-contenders-pretenders.html
Time to get down to brass tacks and begin separating the contenders from the pretenders. The fun started Thursday night with Arizona's upset of No. 2 Oregon. Who'll go down next?
Here's a look at some of the Saturday tests awaiting teams that have aspirations of being among the teams invited to the four-team College Football Playoff: IRISH EYES STANFORD: ...Fri, 03 Oct 2014 07:54:24 GMThttp://www.mail.com/sports/football/3131812-big-games-will-sort-playoff-contenders-pretenders.html2014-10-03T07:54:24Z